Positioning and supporting device for car couplers



Julyls, 1946. ,Q G. GILPIN 2,404,285

POSITIONI'NG AND SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed Nov.'12, 1943 2 sheen-s116151 1 ./E'Q] r l il? 5 I J M8 3 L INVENTOR.`

July 16, 1946- G. 2a.- G'ILPIN 2,404,285

IOSITIONING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed-Nov. 12, i943 z sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR. r/z @6d/m72,

Patented July 16, F1946 PosI'rIoNING AND sUPPoRTiNG DEVICE Fon CAR coUPLERs Garth G. Gilpin, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Stande ard Railway Equipment Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application November 12, 1943, Serial No. 510,056

. 1 This invention relates to improvements in railway cars and more particularly to improvements in means for supporting the outer end of a railway car couplerv adjacent itsfhead. f. Y

l My present invention isfanimprovement over v- Patent No. 1,923,433 granted to me on August 22, 1933, and Patent No.` 2,308,032 granted to James S. Swann on January 12, 1932, both of which patents are assigned to the same assignee to which this invention and application will be assigned.

Oneof the objects of the invention is to support a railway car, coupler upon a device which permits the coupler to move horizontally and vertically with the coupler of another car when coupled thereto as the couplers adjust themselves to the curves and unevennessof the track, as well as causes the coupler to return to normal coupling range when free todo so; for instance, when a coupler supportedby my device is uncoupled while the railway car is upon a curved track.

Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient means in a carrier for supporting the outer end of a coupler at a desired elevation during service movements of the car, but which means permits downward and/or lateral movement ofthe coupler when an additional live load is applied such as when two coupled cars are pulled over a track elevation, hump, vertical curve in the track, or around a curve, and wherein said y carrier, when free to do so, will return the coupler to its normal height and simultaneously to a position at least adjacent the center of the car Within coupling range.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the service stresses in the coupler by `providing a;

resilient coupler carrier thereby permitting the outer end of the coupler to move vertically so that the center line of coupled couplers will be nearer a straight line, thus reducing the resultant force in the coupler shank. When the force.

from being transmitted by the coupler to adja 'cent car parts, and furthermore, to reduce the friction and wear between the associated parts.

Another object is to provide a resilient means I which cushions and centers the gcoupler by maintaining the carrier in adjustment with the cou- -55. @Fig-,ashows the modiiication with the coupler 14 Claims. (Cl. 213-,61)

y'fill 2 pler', and which may .be readily and quickly assembled or taken apart; is very light in weight and ,economical-to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to resiliently supportthe coupler bya pair of spaced apart springs and provide means so that as the coupler moves laterally a predetermined distance, in either direction, the springs Will be distorted, thereby causing a tendency for the springs to return the coupler toward its normal position and within coupling range and at the same time arrange such means so that the coupler may move laterally (in either direction) beyond said predetermined position without further distorting the springs and at the same time not relieving the springs of any distortion. Such an arrangement may be necessary and advisable where the coupler moves a-great distance laterally, such as in K passenger train cars. The object of such `construction, is to ,limit the distortion of the springs as excessive and frequent distortions may cause fatigue of the metal and breakage of the spring. The .distance two couplers are out of alignment and Will still couple iscalle'd the coupling range.

Throughout `the specification, wherever the lterm coupler is used, it is understood to mean a standard railway car coupler wherein no provision is made for the coupler to rotate around its longitudinal axis. s

Also in the modications of the invention some of the elements'rolksome rock and some do both simultaneously, therefore, applicant has used in Athe speciiication and claims the word rock (and derivations thereof) with the understanding that, for the purpose of describing the invention, theterm includes a rocking and/or rolling action.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the striking casting of a railway car withy my device appliedthereto.

. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 3 shows the coupler and my device in normal position; that is, adjacent the middle of the car.

Fig. 4 shows the coupler and the relative position of the component elements of my device when `the coupler has been moved laterally a predetermined distance.

'Figf lis the same as Figa except that the f coupler hasV been moved laterally more than said predetermined distance.

Fig. Gashows a modication of the inventiony `with the coupler in normal position.

. Figv '-shows thenmodication with the couplerY moveddaterally a predetermined distance.

-springs providing a restoring force urging the device toward coupling rangeand whereby upon furtherl lateral movement ofl the coupler -the spring-seat, springs and spring cap rock as a unit upon one of said supports'without substantially further distorting the springs. y

`2,. A coupler cushioning, positioning and supportingdevice for a railway car coupler movable laterally and vertically of a car in substantially horizontal'planes, a'coupler carrier to support said coupler andv move therewith, and al member fixed to the car below the coupler; said device comprising spaced springs adapted to resiliently supportthe carrier, means including a spring seat ymountable upon said memberto support said springs upon said memberupon spaced supports between said springs whenthe ydevice is applied vto a car, said springs being laterally distorted upon a predetermined lateral movementrof the carrier, `thus providing a 4restoring force in the springs, to return the carriery to normal central position when free to do so and further lateral movement of the carrier will cause said spring seat to rock upon one of said supports without further distortion of the springs. Y

3. A cushioning coupler supporting 'and positioning device for a railway car coupler movable laterally and vertically ofa car in substantially horizontal planes, which car is provided with a part having a portion below the coupler; said device comprising resilient means adapted to resiliently support said coupler, and means including'a spring seat upon said portionadapted to support said resilient means upon said portion when the device is appliedvto a car, said supporting means formed and operatively associated with said coupler and portion, respectively, so that a predetermined lateral movement of the coupler will distort said resilienty means, and further lateral movement of the coupler will not relieve nor further distort saidresilient means, thus providing a restoring force in the distorted resilient means to return the coupler to coupling range.

4. `A cushioning and positioning deviceto support a coupler carrier upon a member fixed to a railway car, which carrier is movable vertically and laterally of the car in substantially horizontal planes said device comprising a spring seat,

a spring cap, and spaced springs adapted to be .interposed therebetween, means adapted to support said device between said carrier and member, respectively, at spaced points between said springs when the device is applied to a car, said springs being laterally distorted during movement of the carrier laterally of the car a predetermined distance, thus providing a restoring force in said `springs to return the carrier to normal position ,when free to do so, and further lateral movement of the carrier will cause said device to rock about one of said points without further distortion -of the springs.

5. A cushioning coupler supporting and positioning device for a railway car coupler, said coupler mounted normally adjacent the middle of a railway car and arranged to move vertically fand/orslaterally of the below-the coupler; said device comprising a carrierffforusupporting the Acoupler, saidxcarrier adapted to'lrnove vertically and/,or laterally with the'coupler, a springseat so formed as t o be rockyable upon; said member-fixed tojthe= car; l and spaced springsadapted to be interposed Vbetween Usaid V,carriers-and; said spring; seat substantially equirdistantnon opposite sides of f the middleoi the carwhen the device is appliedjto a car,. said carrier and .Springseat beingso formed that said springs are rockablyV mountedupon the carrier and springv seat, respectively, on a relatively wide ilatsurface between oppositelydnclined surfaces, saidflat surfaces and said inclined surfaces being positioned .in relation to each-other and to said springs sothat as the carrier `-is moved laterally a predetermined distance both springs aredistorted and the trailing spring ,fis compressed more J.than the :leading fsprna thus4 :providing a restoring forcein said springs for'urging thecarrier' toward normall central pcsition, and aV further lateral movement ofthe carrierwill cause each .spring ,to rock from said flat surface to one of said inclined surfaceswithout further distortion.` s

, i 6. A coupler cushioning and positioning device fora railway car coupler, mounted upon a car to move inr substantially horizontal vplanes laterally and vertically within av support having-a member below the coupler;v said devicecomprising spaced springs adapted to resiliently support `the coupler', and means including a spring seat upon. said member adapted to support said springsupon said member at spaced points between said springs, said springsand support operativelyassociated with said coupler and member, respectively,vwhen the device is applied t0 a car, Vsaid vsprings being laterally distortedupon a predetermined lateral movement of the coupler within coupling range, thus providing a restoring force in the springs to maintain the coupler within normal coupling range, and further lateral movement of the coupler will cause the support to rock about one of said spaced points without iurtioning device fora railway car couplermovable laterally and vertically of a car in substantially horizontal planes, rwhich car is provided with a part having-a portion below the coupler; said fdevice comprising spaced springs adapted to re'- siliently support said coupler, and a support mountable upon said portion for-said springs, said support having' spaced flat surfaces, 1 each between oppositely inclined surfaces, said springs normally resting upon said nat surfaces, when the device is applied to a car, said flat surfaces and said inclined surfaces being positioned relative to each other and to said springs so that as the coupler is moved laterally a predetermined distance both springs are distorted, and a further lateral movement of the coupler willcause each spring to rock from said flat `surface to one of said inclined surfaces without relieveing orfurther distorting said springs, thus providing a restoring force in the distorted springs to return I the coupler tocoupling range.

8. vA cushioning coupler supporting and posi` horizontal planes, which car is provided with a part having a portion below the coupler; said device comprising tiltable spaced springs adapted to resiliently support the coupler, and means 4in...

car insubstantially horizonta1- planes, `said car havingqa member fixed 

